Washington Good Neighbor Days supplants the Washington Cherry Festival

WASHINGTON — Say goodbye to the Washington Cherry Festival and hello to Washington Good Neighbor Days.

After contemplating the name change for a few years, the Washington Chamber of Commerce made the switch for the May 28 through June 1 festival.

Chamber Executive Director Chevie Ruder said after all the neighborly acts of kindness in the wake of the Nov. 17 tornado, the timing was perfect to bring back Good Neighbor Days. That was the festival’s name from shortly after its inception in the 1970s until 1999, when the chamber took over event operations from a volunteer group and changed the name to Cherry Festival. It also moved the festival from August to May.

“From what I can tell, the name was changed because of the story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree and to give the festival a food theme like other area festivals,” Ruder said.

“But there aren’t any cherry trees in Washington. There’s always been a disconnect. So far, the reaction we’ve heard to the name change is positive. People are happy to see us go back to our roots.”

The festival is held on John Bearce Companies property off Washington Road.

The festival is the major fundraiser for the chamber, providing money for about 40 percent of its operating budget. That’s why plans have been in the works since last year to give the festival a facelift.

The tornado hasn’t changed those plans, which include the October hiring of Washington insurance agent Patrick Sams as the first festival director.

“We’re asking our businesses to expand, take risks, experiment, as the city recovers from the tornado; so we need to do those things ourselves,” Ruder said.

“Hopefully, we’ll have more people than ever at the festival. We need to make their experience a good one.”

A white tiger exhibit and appearance by 19-year-old television actor Kenton Duty (“Lost,” Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up!”) are among the new twists. Also, this year the festival won’t end on Saturday night; it will be open Sunday for carnival rides, the craft show and perhaps more, Ruder said.

Rain drenched last year’s festival, canceling the fireworks show twice. Ruder said fireworks will return this year ... weather permitting, of course.

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog on pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.